Here at the AKC, we never get tired of learning more about dogs, whether it's a new study on canine behavior, a statistic from our database, or even just cool facts about a dog's impressive physical and mental abilities. You may know some of these already, and others may be more of a "wait, really?" […]

Dog owners reap many benefits from their canine companions – love and affection, nonjudgmental friendship, social connections, exercise incentives, stress relievers, guardians – and the list goes on. But, dog ownership also comes with significant financial costs. When buying a house, car, or living room furniture, most people carefully consider and plan for the costs. […]

Dog depression is a real and present concern for many owners. But how do you know if your dog is depressed? Learn more about signs of depression in dogs and causes, as well as what to do if you think your pet may be struggling.

Like Afghanistan, the Maine State Prison (the original facility was built in 1824) has a history. And mark my words, Craig Grossi and Fred have left colorful imprints on both. You may have met Fred in Grossi’s earlier absorbing book, “Craig & Fred,” in which the author, a Marine Corps intelligence collector, rescues a friendly […]

Dogs are always born in litters and oftentimes look alike, so it is easy to assume that identical twins aren't uncommon in puppies. But in reality, identical twins in dogs are incredibly rare. Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy. They can be either identical twins, meaning that they develop from one egg […]

What could be more all-American than baseball and dogs? Combine the two and it makes for a perfect summer afternoon. Across the country, minor league baseball teams — and even a few major league teams — have their very own baseball dogs that are as much a part of the team as players, coaches, and […]

Language is a strange thing, even when it comes to dogs. Just like some other words have strange plurals, "goose" and "geese," for example, some dog breed names have strange plurals, as well. Not every breed plural is as easy as Labrador Retriever and Labrador Retrievers. Instead, we have "Puli" and "Pulik." Think you have […]

Like the humans who care for them, dogs are not exempt from the battle of the bulge; they, too, struggle with weight gain and the health problems that come along with carrying around extra pounds. “Dogs of all ages can be obese, although the greatest prevalence of obesity occurs in dogs between 5 and12 years […]

Breeding dogs and producing puppies is a rewarding experience. Every litter is unique in some ways, and it takes many years to gain the experience to recognize signs of potential problems and know what steps can be taken to intervene and potentially save the lives of puppies. Breeders should be present when a dam delivers […]

Learning how to be safe around dogs is important for everyone, especially children, whether or not they have a dog at home. In order to make interactions between kids and dogs pleasant for all parties, we recommend teaching children how to approach a dog, what to do when they see a loose dog, and the proper way […]